Fandoms Are Good For You

Fandoms. What is a fandom? According to Annabelle Givins, on the odessey.com, a fandom is “Any group or work that can get a dedicated following,” Such as a rock band or movie series. Fandoms, in the barest sense, are a group of people gathering based on a mutual interest in something. That sounds really boring, and doesn’t really do fandoms the justice they deserve.
Fandoms are places of geek culture and great imagination to congregate and explore the possibilities of worlds. The author, Givins, stresses the importance of the fans in a fandom, just as the name suggests. Fans are the foundation of a fandom. They create the culture, the gathering and bonding. But, it doesn’t just happen at random. A fandom starts by the creation of a following after a certain work, like Lord Of The Rings or Doctor Who. Then, there arises a social group or even a culture based on that thing; Events, fan merchandise and fan material, even a culture or social group usually follow. Fandoms are unique, like Givins says, to the people and the object of the fandom.
A fandom is not a club, not an organization. More like freelance gatherings and groups of people who like something and go with it. They are different than a lot of other geek and pop culture organizations, fandoms aren’t exclusive to one location. Givins says that fandoms exists all over the world, in all social settings and places. The most important thing to remember is that fandoms create a social network. Even people who don’t have many friends or are lonely can find a friend through common interest. Fandoms connect each of us together through our inner geek and interests.

Despite these positives, however, Givins raises the concerns that doctors and other health professionals have about fandoms. For instance, Doctors have said that they can promote obsessive, erratic, and sometimes violent behavior. Givins mentions events like the SlenderMan stabbings, done after the game craze several years back. This caused serious investigation and shock, as it was one of the first crimes of it’s kind; meaning the first crime that was because of a fandom. With problems and hazards like this, Doctors started to point to the fandom as the cause. If analyzed, it makes some sense to at least consider the possibility.
Many times people do get very obsessed with their likes, and it can become hazardous to one’s health. Perhaps, as Givins suggests, there is a cause for concern. But, is the concern misplaced in the fandoms? Perhaps it is merely the people in the fandoms, not the fandoms Themselves. If awful events like these happened, and we had no cause to point to, it would be logical to point to why they are doing it. Fandoms.
The crimes have been literally based on a game that has a loyal following, not some random hate crime or theft. But are Fandoms really the cause? Givins argues that the are not, saying that instead of promoting violence, it brings people together with common interests and common places and can build support and stability in someone’s life.
Givins says that a fandom is a community, not a cult that breaks the laws and creates obsessions. Fandoms can even keep a person’s mind and imagination sharp, something extremely needed in today’s age. What if, like Givins says, Fandoms are just loving your favorite superhero? What if it’s not actually about the concept, but the story? The characters? So many people are affected positively by them, and are all the better for it.
What about events like ComiCon? FanX? Online fanfiction websites? Places like DeviantArt, Wattpad, Fanfiction.net? There are hundreds of places where people with ideas talk fandoms. Givins points out the role that fandoms can have in self acceptance. You can be completely anonymous, strange and open, and in some ways fans and fandoms can help you do that. It is an outlet for creativity and self interest. Fandoms are not a place for unhealthy mentality, but a place for openness and for people to stick together.

People are people, and they will always do what they want despite fandoms, or any other interests. Why blame fandoms? Fandoms, instead, are a place for a person to feel wanted and loved for their interests and ideas, instead of rejected. Givins, most importantly of all, says that a fandom expands and helps the mind to grow and think. A fandom, is just an imaginative way to look at the world.